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Lakeside grad heads to another title game with Alabama

Griffith to Texas Lutheran

Alabama and Georgia put on quite a show over the weekend in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Both teams played their hearts out and the game came down to the wire. In the end, to the dismay of UGA fans, Alabama held on for a 32-28 victory and earned a spot in college football’s BCS title game vs. Notre Dame.

While the vast majority of local fans were pulling for the red and black, there was a small contingent rooting for ’Bama. They had a special reason: No. 55 for the Crimson Tide is former Lakeside High School standout Josh Dickerson. Dickerson turned down scholarship offers to smaller schools, choosing instead to walk on at Alabama.

Now a sophomore, the 6-1, 238 pound linebacker rarely sees the field but is getting a quality education and has a chance to be a part of his second straight national championship team. Alabama takes on Notre Dame in the Discover BCS Championship game at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in Miami.

Griffith to Texas Lutheran

Five years ago there was a buzz at Evans High School that a new kid, a good athlete, had moved from Texas. He was 6-2 and was to be an excellent quarterback. That player turned out to be Troy Griffith. He eventually did take over as the Knights’ starting quarterback and led the team to an 8-3 season in 2009.

Griffith, however, turned out to be a better basketball player. After spending a season as a role-player and shooter off the bench, he came on big-time as a senior, going from reserve to All-County in just one season. As a senior, he averaged 15.7 points per game and led the Augusta area in three-point percentage (52 percent) and free throw percentage (92 percent).

Griffith, now 6-4, parlayed his terrific season into a scholarship to Erskine University. He surprised some by immediately earning considerable playing time and scoring 22 points in a single game. Last season, as a sophomore, he played a lot and even started a couple of games, but chose to transfer in the off-season.

Griffith has landed back in Texas and is starting at small forward for Texas Lutheran. The 6-4, 195 pound Griffith has been a leader for the 2-4 club. He is second on the team in minutes played (27.2 per game) and leads the team in assists at 2.3 per contest. He has also continued to shoot the ball well. Despite struggling from 3-point range he is still shooting an impressive 51.4 percent from the field and also is knocking down 83.3 percent of his free throws. Griffith also is third on the team in scoring (8.7 points per game) and steals (1.2 per game).

The key for Griffith so far this season is consistency. He has scored between eight and 11 points in every game but one. Once he finds his range from beyond the arc, he could be in for a big season at Texas Lutheran.